The 2024 recruiting class is all wrapped up so it’s time to see which groups gained every place. At the moment we conclude our position-by-position take a look at the highest lessons with the defensive backs.
NOTE: Faculty transfers aren’t included on this listing however transfers from inside the 2024 class – a scenario created by the late teaching adjustments – will probably be factored into this sequence.
1. GEORGIA
Sheer star energy pushed Kirby Good’s program atop this listing. Not solely was Ellis Robinson the runaway choice for the highest cornerback within the 2024 class, he closed out the rankings as the highest defensive prospect within the nation no matter place. It might be a close to shock if he didn’t make an instantaneous influence, even at Georgia that reloads throughout its protection every year.
The Bulldogs additionally introduced in top-ranked security KJ Bolden, a signing day flip from Florida State, locking in as versatile a secondary projection as any prospect nationally. Two extra top-100 prospects spherical out the listing in Ondre Evans and athlete Demello Jones, who will line up within the secondary to kick off his faculty profession.
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2. ALABAMA
Relating to quantity and the perfect pure cornerback group, Alabama takes the cake. It’s additionally the one program past Georgia that signed a number of five-star secondary projections, every projected on the skin in Jaylen Mbakwe and Zabien Brown. These two are contrasts of each other, with the previous a pure projection based mostly off of instincts and athletic capability whereas the latter is an extended, battle-tested technician who seems to have among the many highest flooring on the place.
The remainder of the haul has head-turners all through, too, within the high-upside cornerback Zavier Mincey, bodily security in Peyton Woodyard, do-it-all nickel projection Rydarrius Morgan and play-making legacy expertise Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
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3. TEXAS
A pair of Florida defections in Xavier Filsaime and Wardell Mack solidified one of many extra balanced secondary hauls within the class of 2024. An Orlando native who made his title in Texas, Filsaime had a banner 2023 and was elevated to five-star standing as a flexible security projection. Mack has lengthy been thought of one of many high cornerbacks within the class along with his nice body and polished protection ability.
Jordon Johnson-Rubell, who simply has a nostril for the soccer, might work at security or nickel down the road and Santana Wilson makes for the third Texas cornerback projection standing 6-foot-1 or higher. The group is available in with the kind of measurement wanted for this system’s transfer to the SEC.
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4. FLORIDA STATE
There will not be a transparent, skilled security projection among the many quartet introduced in by Mike Norvell and firm, however there may be size, pace, cowl and ball abilities unfold all through the Seminoles’ haul.
Charles Lester is as lengthy and twitchy as any ability projection within the class, with a cornerback ceiling and security flooring going into the collegiate ranks. Cai Bates is a giant, intriguing expertise on the island bettering in regular style after developing as a large receiver.
Ricky Knight is the technician of the group, although he additionally has supreme ball abilities and manufacturing to his title. Jamari Howard is the wildcard, each the longest and doubtlessly the quickest of the bunch, with expertise at each nook and security so far.
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5. OHIO STATE
From the outset of the 2024 cycle, Ohio State’s secondary plan started with touchdown elite in-state targets Aaron Scott and Bryce West, and the Buckeyes achieved that early on, by no means trying again. Every is huge, battle-tested and productive in opposition to the kind of 50-50 performs that make or break crimson zone and/or move-the-chain moments in opposition to marquee opponents.
With the cornerback duo solidified, it sought out depth in Arizona native Miles Lockhart to mix with security projections Leroy Roker and Jaylen McClain. Roker is the late-bloomer of the bunch, developing as a basketball prospect as an underclassman, so he may very well be the addition we glance again on years down the road having missed on projecting his ceiling in Columbus.